Chapter 17 Gloom
Gloom
Ernest
A new encrypted message popped up in the corner of my screen, and since it was from Davidson, I opened it immediately.
Davidson: Quick warning. I’ve averted another attempt by Harry Burnes to overturn the direction of the Longwang project.
We had an emergency board meeting today.
I consider his actions an attempted IP theft, but the board is hesitant since the contact who warned me wants to remain anonymous.
I want Burnes to be cut off from any ongoing projects and to face a proper investigation.
I’ve sent a message to Lawrence. If you see this first, have him call me.
Me: IP theft? How? He’s the co-owner. Lawrie is asleep. I’ll tell him to call you when he wakes up if that’s okay.
Davidson: Burnes was planning to smuggle the designs out and sell them to the competition. I got a tip from someone who works for the other company. I’ll explain more in person.
Harry Burnes was not only an asshole but also an idiot. Trying to steal from his own company and getting caught? Or he was desperate. I shot another email to Davidson.
Me: How’s Burnes’s private financial situation?
Davidson: Exactly my thoughts. I’m looking into it. Talk later.
Lawrie stirred, so I closed my laptop and lay down by his side.
When I’d bought this sectional, I wondered if it was maybe too large for me—it took a significant amount of floor space in my living room, creating something of an island.
But it was perfect for my Lawrie and me lazing around like this. I kissed his cheek.
“Mmm?”
“Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”
“I’m good.” He wiggled and nuzzled my face, eyes still closed.
“Do you want to sleep some more?”
“No. What time is it?”
“Around five.”
“Ugh. I slept for two hours?”
“You needed it. I kept you awake at night, remember?”
He smiled, humming. “I do. That was epic.”
“I might do it again tonight. I’m glad you’ve had a good nap.”
“I think I need to shower.”
He attempted to raise himself, so I sat up and tugged him with me. Rubbing his eyes, he yawned. “Damn. It feels like waking up into another century.”
“When you’ve aligned the timelines in your head, you need to call Sullivan.”
He blinked at me, all disheveled and adorable. “What?”
I swiped a few errant strands of hair away from his forehead. “He emailed a while ago. It’s about Harry Burnes.”
“Shit. Okay.”
He reached for his phone on the coffee table.
“Don’t you want to shower first?” I asked.
“No. I’ll get this out of the way. Then we can shower together.”
“And we’re supposed to go out for dinner later. Remember? Josh booked us a table.”
“Oh right. Yes, let’s do that.”
Lawrie was already dialing, his knee bouncing up and down. I placed my hand over it, and he smiled at me sheepishly.
“Hello, Mr. Sullivan. Ernest said you needed to talk to me.”
I patted his knee and stood up. In my study, I plugged in my laptop to charge and turned off the desktop computer. Then I walked to the bedroom for a change of clothes. I could hear Lawrie talk, all serious and to the point. My Lawrie was sharp and sexy as hell in his professional mode.
“Yes, sir. I remember… It was before Christmas. That was the day before I called you about his allegedly forgotten item at your office… Yes, I’m sure.
I noted the day in my calendar… No, I have never let him into your office unless you were present…
No… Absolutely, I’ll let you know… Thank you, Mr. Sullivan.
Do you need me to contact the receptionist for you?
” His eyes flashed to mine as I walked past him to the kitchen.
“Thank you. I’ll do that… Yes, I’ll see you on Monday. Goodbye, sir.”
“Davidson didn’t tell you to work on Sunday, did he?” I asked. If he had, I would give him an earful. I didn’t care if the world was about to end—tomorrow was for Lawrie and me only.
“No. He said he’d delegate everything. He only wanted to know about Mr. Burnes attempting to enter the office when he was away.
Which happened twice on my watch, and I’d never let him in.
Apparently, the poor guy who was my stand-in this week hadn’t been properly informed.
Mr. Sullivan walked in on Mr. Burnes rooting through his desk. ”
“That’s not your fault.”
“I know. It’s Theo’s problem. For once, Mr. Sullivan isn’t blaming me for the incident.
Not that Mr. Burnes found anything. I honestly wonder about his mental capacity.
Did he think Mr. Sullivan would leave key documents just lying around?
Anyway, Mr. Sullivan is pushing for him to be ousted from the company. ”
“So I’ve heard.”
Lawrie shook his head. “But they still have to buy him out. I don’t want to think about this until Monday. Can we shower together and go out? I might even have a drink.”
I offered Lawrie my hand and pulled him up.
Of course, Lawrie and I in the shower together meant rimming and fucking against the wall.
It seemed like the best way to distract him from any work-related stress.
An almost ridiculous sense of pride filled my chest when I had him moaning and writhing, lost in pleasure, without any worry on his mind.
He came twice, but we didn’t use the plug this time.
Since we were about to dine at his roommate’s workplace, it was probably wise to skip that perk this time around.
I turned the water off and sucked his chest empty so he wouldn’t be uncomfortable when we were out and about.
When I was done with him, Lawrie looked rosy in his face and was smiling, his lips puffy and eyes drooping a little.
Was it possible to look both cute and deadly erotic?
Because Lawrie did. The faint flush in his cheeks lasted until dinner.
The upscale restaurant was one of those places where you could see the kitchen staff at work through a wide window.
Lawrie seemed flustered when Josh waved at us excitedly as soon as we were seated, but then the awkwardness dissipated.
Lawrie sniffed his glass and sipped the sake. “This is nice. Tastes nutty.”
“Glad you like it. I love sake. By the way, your roommate keeps staring at us.” To confirm my point, Josh gave us a long look through the window to the kitchen.
“I’ve been vague with him. He’s wondering what the hell is going on. I need to meet up with him—” Lawrie froze before he scrunched up his face into a painful grimace. “Shit!” he hissed.
Immediately, my senses were on high alert. “Don’t make me freak out. What is it?”
“Ernest, I need to tell him I’m moving out. He can’t afford that apartment by himself. I need to talk to him.”
Oh. Relieved my mate was in no immediate danger, I caught his hand on the table and stroked his fingers. “You are moving in with me?”
Lawrie tilted his head to the side and gave me an uncharacteristically cocky smirk.
“No. I think it would be better to wait for a year or two. After all, we’ve only just met, and I don’t think I’m ready for the commitment.
Let’s keep it casual and see if we want to go exclusive in a few months, okay? ”
I blinked. Casual? Not exclusive? Err… What?
Lawrie, damn him, burst out laughing. “Your face.” He was making fun of me.
“For fuck’s sake, Lawrie!”
Smiling apologetically, he nudged my knee under the table. “You cleared the closet for me the second day of our relationship. I think we already live together.”
“We do.” Shaking my head, I chuckled. “I’m such an easy target, dammit.”
“You are. It’s fun.” The humor drained from his face. “Josh will be devastated. I need to tell him soon.”
“Will it soften the blow if you keep paying rent until he finds someone else?”
“I don’t know if I can.” Lawrie looked around, suddenly interested in the cutlery and saltshaker.
I hummed, pretending to think. “True. My apartment is expensive as hell, and when you pay half of that, your budget is going to be strained.”
His eyes went wide, and he opened his mouth, then closed it again. He folded his arms over his chest, glaring at me. “Did you just attempt to joke about our unequal financial status? Really?”
“It wasn’t funny?”
“No!”
“But you joked about the seriousness of our relationship.”
“My teasing was funny. Yours was not.”
“Um. I think you are probably right. I’m sorry.”
He lifted one eyebrow. “You agree?”
“Yes. Shouldn’t I?”
Lawrie giggled. “You’re way too easy to deal with, Ernest. I was thinking we could have our first fight, and you simply agreed with me.”
“Do you want to have a fight?”
“I don’t know.” Lawrie tapped his finger on his lips. “Will the makeup sex be worth it?”
“It could. Depends on what we fight about.”
“I’ll give it some serious thought and try to provoke a harmless conflict later on.”
“Cool. It’s a deal. Just give me some kind of signal so I don’t agree with you and ruin the fight.”
Grinning, Lawrie lifted his glass. “Will do.”
“What do you want to do tomorrow?”
“I want to spend the day naked in bed with you, and then I want to go flying again.”
“That’s a grand plan. I’m in.”
Lawrie held on to my neck and petted me as we drifted through the evening air slowly so he could enjoy the views over the mountains. The night came early, and we sat on top of the highest peak in the park, watching the stars appear one after another.
“One day, you need to fly with me during daylight.”
Lawrie rested his head against my muzzle, stroking me lazily under my chin. “Is it safe? We could be seen.”
“There are places deserted enough a few hours’ drive away from here.
And one day, I’ll bring you to northern Canada.
Or Patagonia. You’d love Patagonia—it feels like a different planet.
We could pack a tent and disappear for a few days.
We don’t have to meet another soul for a week if we don’t want to. ”
“That sounds absolutely amazing.” And he kissed me—just closed lips, lingering a little under my eye.